Sanitary paper seat cover apparatus



May 27, 1941. H. 1. STILLER SANITARY PAPER SEAT COVER APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 7 mm ML 5 2 8 e :7 4 55 a u. a r fl May 27, 1941. H. I. STILLER 2,243,134

SANITARY PAPER SEAT-COVER APPARATUS Filed Ma a; 1959" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 MN 6 7 w a a u v w aw/m 5 0 Y Q A. o 1 e z M .1 3 I J M H 4 Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY PAPER SEAT COVER. APPARATUS Harry I. Stiller, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,461

14 Claims.

My invention relates to plumbing facilities, and particularly to an improved apparatus embodying a disposable sanitary paper seat cover for water closets.

The desirability of using a disposable paper seat cover on water closets has been recognized previously, and there are some devices on the market for dispensing sheets of paper with holes corresponding to the opening in the toilet seat. In the use of these, separate sheets must be stripped from the dispenser and placed over the seat. There is nothing to retain them in place, they tend to wrinkle, tear, and become dislodged, and must be manually disposed of after use,

Some eiforts have been made to design automatic attachments for water closets containing paper seat covers in roll form, but for various defects none of these, to my knowledge, has been accepted by the public.

It is an object of my invention to provide a 'water closet cabinet with auxiliary features specially designed for use of a sanitary paper seat cover in roll form.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a device of this character a power driven paper supply and disposal mechanism, automatically operated by pressing a small button or lever, to accumulate on a roll concealed within the cabinet, paper which has been used, and at the same time correctly position a fresh section of paper over the toilet seat delivered from'a roll concealed in another part of the cabinet.

Another object is to incorporate means for initially guiding and positioning the paper over the seat, and additional means to prevent slippage thereof, actuated by the weight of a person sitting on the seat.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of the assembled structure seen from above.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line seat, and a paper retaining device, taken on line 'I---'! of Figure 6.

I provide a cabinet l0 preferably made of sheet metal and enameled an attractive color, which joins a bathroom wall II and floor 12, It is formed with a top l3, an upper front Wall I4, sides I5 and I6, and a lower front wall I! including a hinged door I1, and except for an opening accommodating the seat [8 of water closet I 9 completely encloses the water closet and operating parts, as Well as my sanitary paper supply mechanism hereinafter described.

The cabinet is described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 105,918, filed October 16, 1936, of which this application is a continuation in part. The cabinet is retained in place by a spring-like lip 20 engaging a 00- operating clip 2| on a floor plate 22, The door ll is hinged at 23 and is normally held closed by any suitable latch or spring device. The top I3 is readily removable to give access to the interior of the upper part of the cabinet. 1

On the interior of each of the sides l5 and i6 is secured a bracket 25 which rotatably supports a spool 26 carrying a roll of paper 27. The roll is introduced from above, while the top I3 is removed, and the ends of the spool rest in the brackets 25.

This roll of paper 27 is of any suitable type and quality. I have found so-called shelf paper to be well fitted for this use, as it is smooth and fairly tough,.and can be obtained in white or colors.

The paper is formed with holes 38 conforming to the opening 3| in the seat l8, and spaced in sections for successive introduction over the seat as hereinafter described. The paper is marked with a starting line 32 as a guide in threading it, and contains progressive numerals 33 numbering sections of paper which are distinguished by the holes 30.

The roll 21 is of course the supply of fresh paper, After use, the paper is rolled up on a take up spool 35 located in the lower forward part of the cabinet.

Behind the upper front wall M of the cabinet is a paper guide member 36 which as shown consists of a sheet of metal secured in close proximity to the front wall l4 and forming a space therebetween for free passage of the paper. The front Wall I4 and the guide member 36 .have concentric curved portions 31 and 38, to guide the paper in its change of direction as it passes the end 39 of the front wall and extends horizontally forward across the seat l8.

The seat has rectangular outside dimensions conforming to that part of the cabinet forward of the front wall I4. It is supported at the rear by a hinge 40 which has its ends secured in the sides of the cabinet, The front and sides of the seat are provided with small rubber knobs II which rest upon a cushioning and sealing element 42 mounted on rim 43 of the bowl of the water closet. This element 42 extends all the way around the rim and comprises in part an inwardly extending shelf 45 joining the sides I and IS, the guide member 36, and a part of the front lower wall serving as a guide member 46, The part 45 and the door II'I together form the lower front face of the cabinet, having a slot 4 I between them for used paper to enter the cabinet.

Along the sides of seat I8 are horizontal paper guides 58 which confine the paper to the seat and prevent it from buckling or becoming dis placed.

Each guide consists of a flat strip 5| hinged at 52 in a bracket 53 which is secured to the sides of the seat. The hinge is formed of a hub 5 and a pin 54'. The hub hasa notch 55in it for a purpose'to be described. Onthe lower face of thestrip 5| is a rubber cushion 56. When the toilet is not in use, the strip 5I bears lightly on the paper, and the paper may be readily rn'ove'd under it. I provide pins 60; the heads 51 of which rest upon the shelf 45 and the upper ends of which are adapted to enter the notches 5'5. A compression spring 61', bearing at one end on a. collar 62 of the pin, and at the other end against a web 63 in the bracket, yieldably supports the seat above the shelf 4'5. When a person occupies the toilet, his weight causes the springs GI to compress until most of the weight is resting on the rubber knobs 41. At this time the upper ends of the pins engage' the notches 55 and tend to rotate the hubs 53, thus compressing the cushion 56 against the paper positioned over the seat; and holding it firmly in place.

The take up means for the paper comprises the spool 35; which has alongitudinal slot 65"the width of the paper, and is formedwi'th squared ends 66. These ends are axially keyed in discs 61 and 68 Disc 68 has gear teeth on its periphery. Each disc is formed witha radially disposedfiat sided slot 69, enabling the square ends of the spool to be slid into pia'ce. The spool is retained in its axial position on the discs by a spring actuated latch I0, pivoted at H on a small bracket on the disc, and extending through a narrow slot I2. To remove the spool when filled, it is merely necessary to depress the latches, and slide the square ends past.

The discs are rotatably supported by stub shafts I5 mounted in bearings 16 on the sides of the cabinet. They are rotated by an elec tric motor 'II, through a reducing unit I8 and a spur gear I9 meshing with the gear teeth on disc 58. Reverse rotation of the discs is prevented by a pawl 90 engaging the teeth on disc 68.

Control means for starting; and automatically stopping, the motor, at the proper time, are to be next described.

There is a push button Iflll' mounted on the upper front wall of the cabinet, which actuate's a bell crank IllI, pull rod I02, second b'ell crank I03, push rod I04, and a throw switch 105. p The switch is in the motor circuit. It comprises an the its pivoted at 101. It is snsw'n in run uses in the off position, Figure 2. The lower end of the switch extends into the path of a lug I08 on a rotary disc I09. This disc is mounted for free rotation in a suitable bearing on the side of the cabinet. It is formed with a sprocket IIii over which is trained a chain III which is driven by a sprocket H2. The latter sprocket is fixed upon a shaft II3 which carries a spiked roller IN. I prefer to stagger the spikes as illustrated in Figure 5, so that there will be no chance of slippage. A complementary grooved roller H5 is mounted for free rotation at the upper ends of pivoted arms IIB which are supported at the sides of the cabinet.

Springs III urge the grooved roller M5 toward the spiked roller H4, between which the paper is" threaded.

The spiked roller performs two functions: It measures the paper which passes, and it mutilates the paper to prevent it from being used ri e c The diameter of the disc I09 is such that one complete revolution thereof is equal to one sectionof paper, which reaches approximatel yfrom the lower end 39 of the wall I4 to the slot 41 in the lower front part of the cabinet. 7

Astop' member I20; pivo'tally anchored at I21 is adapted to engage the lug I 08. This stop member is connected through link I22, bell crank I23, and rod I24, with the arm of switch I95.

A conventional flush valve I30; is operated by link I3l', crank I32, rod I33, and crank I35 the latter of which is formed with a' yoke I35. These parts are all concealed within the cabinet. A handle I36, accessiblefrom outside the' cabinet, is connected with the yoke I35 When the handle is raised, a collar I31 on the lower end thereof engages the yoke, and through the rods and cranks described, opens the flush valve. It is im-material to my invention, whether the water closet includes this type of valve, or uti-' lizes a tank. If a tank is to be used, it is" erl-" closed within the cabinet, and the cabinet will be slightly higher to accommodate the tank. In that event, the paper roll 21 will be p'osi tioned' somewhat higher in the cabinet; v

My invention is' utilized as follows: A fresh roll of paper 2-! is installed, and the free end threaded down between the guide member 36' and the cabinet upper front wall I4. The guides 5I may be swung upon their hinges until the paper is drawn across the seat I8, and then dropped into' the position shown in Figure '7.

An empty take upspopiss must be available, and the door If should be opened. The free end of the paper is bent over, and the paper is slipped edgewise into the slot 65 from the end. It is given one or twoturns over the spool, and the spool is installed in the discs 61 and 63 by sliding it in the grooves 69 past the latches I0. During this threading procedure, the roller H5 is of course swung down out of the way. This roller is now allowed to swing into the position shown in Figure ZEwhich' insures that the spikes of roller II4 will puncture the paper. Care should be taken to make sure that the starting mark 32 on the paper is at the position indicated in Figure 2 This can be done by a'd-' lusting the rolls seforeanawing the paper to be punctured by the spiked m11er. osver I3 is rep-licensed door n is closed. The device is now ready for use.

If for any reason" the disc m9 is not see tioned with the lug I08 in the stopped position,

the chain III should be drawn by hand until the lug is in the position shown in Figure 2. This detail should of course be attended to before the paper is engaged with the spiked roller.

In operation, the button I30 is pressed to bring a clean section of paper over the seat. This moves .the switch. arm I06 into the position shown in dotted lines, Figure 2, which is the on position, and which closes the motor circuit. It simultaneously raises the stop I26 out of the path of the lug N38. The motor drives the discs 68.and 37 to wind up paper on the spool 35. Linear travel of the paper is measured by rotationof the spiked roller H5, and this rotation is imparted through the chain IN to the disc I09. As this disc completes one revolution, which represents one section of paper, the lug I08 engages the lower end of the switch arm IE6 and turns the switch ofi. This movement of the switch arm is communicated through the links and crank previously described to the stop I20, lowering it into the path of rotation of lug I08, and preventing further rotation. Reverse movement of the disc I99 is prevented by a pawl I49 engaging a notch MI in the periphery of the disc.

To preserve uniformity in operation, and prevent tearing of the paper, I provide a rheostat control for the motor. This comprises a pair of rollers I45 riding on the surface of the waste paper roll. The rollers are mounted on an axle I46 to which is pivotally secured an arm M1. The arm is connected to a rheostat I48 and o-p erates it, as the diameter of the Waste paper roll increases, to reduce the speed of the motor, so that the rate of travel of the paper is at all times approximately uniform.

Proper attention will insure a continuous supply of paper, as it is merely necessary to observe the number visible on the paper as indicated in Figure 1, in order to know when a replacement will be required.

However, I provide an emergency gravity switch I50 in the motor circuit, comprising a roller II engaging the paper. If for any reason, the paper should break, or the supply become exhausted,-the roller will fall and prevent the circuit from being closed, or if already closed will open it. Without such a device, if no paper is passing the spiked roller, the control mechanism would be ineffective, and the motor, once started, would run indefinitely.

An important feature of my invention is the combination of the operating parts and cabinet structure in the manner described with the discs, rolls, etc. compactly arranged and all concealed within the cabinet. The cabinet is designed and finished with a view to aesthetic appearance and is in harmony with the modern streamline housing of bathroom fixtures.

I claim:

1. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, an electric motor to rotate the take up spool, a switch in the motor circuit, and a paper m uring device engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and rotatable by the paper actuating the switch to break the circuit and stop the motor when paper the length of one section has been wound up.

2. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, an electric motor to rotate the take up spool, a switch in the motor circuit, and a paper measuring device engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and rotatable by the paper actuating the switch to break the circuit and stop the motor when paper the length of one section has been wound up, the paper measuring device including a spiked roller which punctures the paper and is positively rotated thereby.

3. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the pa-' per drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for Winding up used paper, an electric motor to rotate the take up spool, a switch in the motor circuit, and a paper measuring device engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and rotatable by the paper actuating the switch to break the circuit and stop the motor when paper the length of one section has been wound up, the paper measuring device including a spiked roller which punctures the paper and is positively rotated thereby, and a roller with grooves accommodating the spikes pressing the paper against the spiked roller.

4. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, an electric motor to rotate the take up spool, a switch in the motor circuit adapted to be manually operated to close the motor circuit, and a paper measuring device engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and rotatable by the paper actuating the switch to break the circuit and stop the motor wIhen paper the length of one section has been wound up, the paper measuring device including a spiked roller which punctures the paper and is positively rotated thereby, a roller with grooves accommodating the spikes pressing the paper against the spiked roller, a rotatable disc provided with a member adapted to engage the switch to open the same, and means positively communicating rotation of the spiked roller to the said disc.

5. A device of the character described in claim 4 in which there is a stop mechanically linked to the switch and actuated thereby adapted to engage the member on the rotatable disc and prevent rotation thereof when the switch is opened, and release said member upon the closing of the switch.

6. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat,

comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, the take up spool consisting .of a readily removable slotted tube having square ends, permanently mounted discs having radial key recesses on the inner faces of the discs to axially receive the ends of the spool. and power means to drive one of the discs.

7. An apparatus .to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom. across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, the take up spool consisting of a readily removable slotted tube having square ends, permanently mounted discs having radial key recesses on the inner faces of the discs to axially receive the ends of the spool, latches mounted on the discs to hold the ends of .the spool centered in the discs, and power means to drive one of the discs.

8. The combination of: a water closet including a seat, a cabinet enclosing the closet, a disposable sanitary paper seat cover on the seat, and means along the sides of the seat actuated by downward pressure on the seat to clamp the paper in position upon the seat so long as the pressure on the seat remains, said means including a hinged guide member having a strip overlying the edge of the paper, and a plunger eng gi g one part of the guide member upon downard pressure on the seat to cause a downward thrust of the strip against the paper.

9. The combination of: a water closet including a seat and a flushing apparatus above the seat, a cabinet enclosing the water closet including an upper front wall above the seat enclosing the flushin apparatus, and a lower front slotted wall below the seat, a sanitary paper seat cover mechanism comprising a paper supply roll mounted behind the upper front wall above the flushing apparatus, a take up spool mounted behind the lower front wall, a guide member behind the upper front wall to guide and retain a continuous supply of paper from the roll away from the flushing apparatus, and the lower end of the said wall including curved means for guiding the paper to a position directly over the seat.

10. The combination of: a water closet including a seat, a cabinet enclosing the water closet including an upper front wall above the seat, and a lower front slotted wall below the seat, a sanitary paper seat cover mechanism comprising a paper supply roll mounted behind the upper front wall, a take up pool mounted behind the lower front wall, a guide member behind the upper front wall to guide and confine a continuous supply of paper from the roll, the lower end of the said wall including means for guiding the paper to a position directly over the seat, guide strips along the sides of the seat overlying the edges of the paper, resilient pressure pads on the guide strips adapted to engage the paper to retain it in position when a force is imposed thereon, and means communicating the weight of a person on the seat as the force urging the pressure pads against the paper.

11. An apparatus to successively position sections of a sheet of paper from a roll over the seat of a water closet, each section of paper having a hole therein corresponding to the hole in the seat, comprising: a paper supply spool containing paper, guide means directing the paper drawn therefrom across the top surface of the seat, a take up spool for winding up used paper, an electric motor to rotate the take up spool, a rheostat in the motor circuit and a follower adapted .to engage the outer layer of paper on the take up spool, the follower being mechanically coupled to the rheostat to reduce the speed of the motor as the diameter of the paper on the take up roll increases.

12. The combination of: a water closet including a seat and a flushing apparatus above the seat, a cabinet enclosing the water closet including an upper front wall above the seat enclosing the flushing apparatus, and a lower front slotted wall below the seat, a sanitary paper seat cover mechanism comprising a paper supply roll mounted behind the upper front wall above the flushing apparatus, and a take up spool mounted behind the lower front wall, the upper front wall including vertical guide means having a curved lower element for guiding paper from the supply roll to a position directly over the seat, and a paper measuring and control device within the cabinet engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and adapted to control the travel of paper from the paper supply roll to the take up spool.

13. The combination of: a water closet including a seat and a flushing apparatus above the seat, a cabinet enclosing the water closet including an upper front wall above the seat enclosing the flushing apparatus, and a lower front slotted wall below the seat, a sanitary paper seat cover mechanism comprising a paper supply roll mounted behind the upper front wall above the flushing apparatus, and a take up spool mounted behind the lower front wall, the upper front Wall including a curved lower end for guiding paper from the supply roll to a position directly over the seat, and a paper measuring and control device within the cabinet engaging the paper independently of the take up spool and adapted to control the travel of paper from the paper supply roll to the take up spool.

14. The combination of a .water closet including a seat, a cabinet enclosing the closet, a disposable sanitary paper seat cover on the seat, mechanism for the supply and disposal of seat covers as required, and means along the sides of the seat actuated by downward pressure on the seat created by the weight of a person thereon to clamp the paper in position upon the seat so long as the pressure on the seat remains, said means including a clamp and a clamp actuating member.

HARRY I. STILLER. 

